Connecting-rod for switch-throws



C. H. PAHTI NGTON.

CONNECTING ROD FOR SWITCH THROWS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 6, I921.

1,383,334, Patented July 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- v 1 I ll l C. H. PARTINGTON.

CONNECTING ROD SWITCH THROWS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, I921.

Patented July 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFF C CHARLES H. PARTINGTON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CINCINNATI FROG- 80 SWITCH COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CONNECTING-ROD FOR SWITCH-THROWS.

throw therefor but wherein the throw may be operated forsetting the switch in either open or closed position. r

The invention has as a further object to provide a connecting'rod wherein, without regard as to whether the switch is set in open or closed position, the switch points will, when shifted independently of the switch throw, be yieldably returned to the original set position of the switch.

And the invention has as a still further ob- 7 -bar 13 while at theforward end portionof ject to provide a connecting rod which will be structurally feasible and which in actual practice will operate with entire efficiency section 16 therethrough. In'the *rearofthe and dependability.

' Other and incidentalobjects will appear hereinafter. p In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing my improved connecting rodin connection with a switch and switch throw of con-- the section 17 is a nut 23fid1sposed to coact ventional design. 1

Fig. 2'is an enlarged sectional view show-' 4 tion of the rod sections and, aswlll be obing the rod whenthe switch is closed,

Fig; 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 at right angles thereto, showing the rod when the switch points are moved away from closed position independently of the switch throw, Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing the rod when theswitch is open, 1 Fig. 5 is a'likeview showing the rod whe the switch points are moved away from open position independentlyof the switch throw, Fig. 6 is a transverse'sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows,

' Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing the I closureplug of the rod.

Referring now more particularly to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Application filed May 6, 1921. Serial No. 467,427.

drawings, I have, for convenience, shown my lmproved connecting rod in connection with a switch and switch throw of conventional design. In Fig. 1, main track rails are indicated at 10 and side track rails at 11.

At 12 are shown coacting switch points and connecting these switch points to move in unison is a tie bar 13. The switch is shown closed, the switch point at the right of the figure being moved away from the adjacent main track rail. In the open position of the switch, the switch points are, of course, shifted to a position reverse to that illustrated. The base plate of the switch throw is indicated at 14, this plate being spiked to one of the track ties and journaled upon the plate is a-customary switch throw lever 15. Coming now more particularly to the subj ect of the present invention, it will be seen that I employ coacting telescopic rod sections 16 and 17, the section 16 being solid and the section 17 being hollow. At its forward end the section 16 is provided with a yoke 18 bolted to the adjacentend of. the tie the section 17 areIprovided spacedalined bearings 19 and 20 slidabl'y receiving the bearing 20; the section 17 is, as'shown in detail in Fig. 6, formed with asquared porupon the section 16' within the portion 21* of with the bearing '20' for preventingrseparaand varying the effective length of the rod.

Formed in the cylindrical portion 22 0f the rod section 17 are registering ;slots 24; and 'slidable within said section is a hollow plunger 25 open atits forwardend to re ceive the rear end of the rod section 16and provided at its. rear end with a headg26.

The plunger is, as shown in Fig.f6, substantially rectangular in cross section to freely fit within the portion'21of the section 17 of the" rod but is.,-however, provided'with rounded corners to also freely fit, as shown in Fig. 7, Within the cylindrical portion 22 nearly approaches the wall of the portion 22 forcentering the inner "end of the plunger with respect to said wall. Formed in the plunger'at opposite sides thereofare registering slots 27 alining with the slots 24 of the "rod section 17 and extending freely through all of said slots is a pin 28 which, as shown in Fig. 7, is fixed to the switch throw lever 15. Preferably, a washer 29 is arranged between said lever and the rod section 17 while upon the outer end portion of --the pin; is mounted a second washer 30, a

cotterpin being arranged to coac't between I this washer and the pin for securing the rod uponthe pin. At its outer end, the'rod sec tion 17, is, as particularly'shown in Fig. 8,

formed with oppositely disposedlugs 31 d-irected inwardly toward the axis of said section-and arranged to coact with said lugs is a removable closure plug 32. This plug is provided with an annular radial base-flange 33 freely fitting within 'theouter end portion of the mod "section 17 and formed in said flange are diametric'notches 34 adapted to 'freely receive the lugs '31. Rising from the flange are pairsof reinforcing ribs 35, each :pair of ribs receiving one of the lugs therebetweenrespectively. 1 Accordingly, the ribs "will 'coact with the lugs for locking the plug againstrotation and bearing between said i plug a'ndthe head 26 of the plunger 25 is a "coil spring 36 housed withinsaid rod section; As will be perceived, the 'p'lugmay be depressed: into the-rod section against the tension 'ofsaid spring until'the ribs 35 clear the -lugs 31 when the plug may then be rotated to bring the notches 34: into register withsaid lugs. In this position of the plug, saidrplug may, of course, be removed to per- In'it removal of the spring 36 and plunger 25.

In 'thisconne'ction, it is to be observed that the' rodse'ction 17 is provided with an en-' larged rear terminal 37 to accommodate the 'clug, said terminal carrying the lugs- 31. The

lugs areaccordingly spaced away from the axis ofthe rod section so "as to lie substantially flush 'attheir inner ends with the inner'face of the wall of the'portion 22 of the -section whereby the head '26 of the plunger ,may clear said lugs, I accordingly provide a construction wherein the rod may be readiily assembled or disassembled.

of theprecedin'g description, the spring'36 qwi-ll normally maintainthe "partsin'the posi-z A's wi11 nowbe readily un'der'stoodin view tion shown in-Fi'g. 2, so that the switch throw lever-1 5 may be swung to Shiftfthe switch "points 12 for-opening -or closing "the switch. However, w hen'the switch is closed, as shown in Flg. -1,it will be seen that the I switch points may 'move "for drawing the rod section 17 forwardly over the pin 28, as shown in Fig- 3, and compressing the spring shown in Fig. 5, serve to telescope the rod.

section 16 into the rod section 17 and shift the plunger 25 rea-rwardly in the latter rod section, compressing the spring 36. Accordingly, when the switch points are released, the spring will serve to immediately return the switch points to their original position. Thus, as will be seen, when the switch is closed, rolling stock-may move, in the direction of the arrow incFig. 1, from the rails 11 onto the rails 10, shifting the switch points, while when the switch is open,.roll'- ing stockmay move from the rails 10 onto the rails 11, the switch points being similarly shifted. Furthermore, ineach instance,the switch points will be yieldably returned to "theoriginal position in which the switch is 'movement, and yieldable means between one of the sections and the first'means'for resisting longitudinal movement of the rod as well asTsliding movement of one section relative to the other common to both-movements. 3 -i i j V 2. A switch throw rod' including slidably connected rod sections, means "for slidably supporting the rod for bodilylongitudinal movement, yieldable meansbetween one of the sections and the first means for resistaing longitudinal movement'ofnthe rod as well as sliding movement of one section relative to the other common to both :move- "ments, and means for :adjustablyvarying the effective length of therod. c

I '3. Aswitch' throw rod ncludi'ng slidably connected rod sections, means for slidably supporting the rodfor bodilydongitudinal movement, yieldable means between one of the sections and the first'means for resistlng longitudinal movement ofit'he rod as "well as sliding movement :of one "section I{6l2ti31"8 t0'tl16 other common to both move 'ments, and means connecting the :rod sective length of 'th e'rod.v V l 4;. A switch hrow rod including telescopic rod sections, 7 means for slidably .fsup- :tions and adjustable "forvarying the effecporting the rod .for "bodily longitudinal movement, and yielda b le means mounted within one of the sections coactingwiththe first means for resisting longitudinal movement of therodas well as telescopic 'movement of the sections common to both movements.

5. A switch throw rod including telescopic rod sections, a plunger slidable within one of the sections for supporting the rod for bodily longitudinal movement and disposed to coact with another section of the rod, and yieldable means coacting between the first section and the plunger for resisting longitudinal movement of the rod as well as telescopic movement of the sections.

6. A switch throw rod including telescopic sections, a plunger slidable within one of the sections for supporting the rod for bodily longitudinal movement and disposed to coact with another section of the rod, registering slots in the plunger and said first mentioned section adapted to receive the crank pin of a switch throw lever therethrough connecting the rod with said lever, and yieldable means coacting between the first section and the plunger for resisting longitudinal movement of the rod as well as telescopic movement of the sections.

7. A switch throw rod including telescopic rod sections, a nut carried by one section housed within the other section adjustably connecting the sections, a plunger slidable within said second mentioned section for supporting the rod for bodily longitudinal movement and disposed to coact with said nut, and yieldable means coacting between the latter section and the plunger for resisting longitudinal movement of the rod as well as telescopic movement of the sections.

8. A switch throw rod including slidably connected rod sections, means for slidably supporting the rod for bodily longitudinal movement, a plug closing one of the sections, and yieldable means coacting between the first means and said plug for resisting longitudinal movement of the rod as well as movement of one section relative to the other.

9. A switch throw rod including slidably connected rod sections, means for slidably supporting the rod for bodily longitudinal movement, one of the sections being provided with lugs, a plug closing said section notched to receive said lugs therethrough and further provided with ribs to coact with the lugs normally locking the plug against rotation, and yieldable means coacting between the first means and said plug for resisting longitudinal movement of the rod as well as sliding movement of one section relative to the other.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES H. PARTINGTON. [L. 6.] 

